June 20, 1999

Have We Met?

There were 102 people at the Solemn Mass last Sunday. It didn't occur to me to ask how many people present were members of the parish, but when I saw the number in the service register I wondered, "Where is everyone?"

Two people spoke to me wondering how they could join the parish. Monday morning their names went in the process for making this happen. In fact every Sunday I am here I am aware there are new people who want to join Saint Mary's and new people who are looking for a parish. Shortly this should begin to show up in the monthly column of record, "From the Parish Register." Paperwork can be slow in the Episcopal Church.

Saint Mary's is not a large parish. Saint Mary's is not a wealthy parish. Saint Mary's is a place too rare and too valuable not to be known and loved by others. Not to want to share our community with others would be contrary to the Gospel and to the founding principles of this community in Christ. Every Sunday we have visitors who live in Manhattan or one of the other boroughs or in one of the near suburbs, visitors who are looking for a new church home.

It is possible to seem to be and to pretend to be a private, singular, person in New York or anywhere. When unavoidably making eye contact with another person there is the response of the very slight raised eyebrows or the slight nod or, if one is inclined, the slight smile of acknowledgement - but not the warm smile of interest. It is, however, simply contrary to the ordinary meaning of the New Testament, not to mention other sources of Christian life, history and tradition, not to know the names of one's nearest relatives in Christ or not to care about new members of the family.

It probably is not a good thing for our parish clergy and just a few lay members to be outgoing about welcoming newcomers. Our ushers certainly are doing a good job. (Yes, I have been observing you when I can.) But if you are a member of the parish, this is your home. It is entirely appropriate for you to say to someone the same thing I say with your own name instead of mine, "Have we met? I'm Stephen Gerth."

One cannot always guarantee how one will be perceived. But, in the long run, one's true personality does come out. The true personality of Saint Mary's is, I truly believe, one of Christian warmth, welcome and joy. I see faces from the pulpit and at the altar rail in a way that only other members of your parish clergy see you. So often we see your smile and your open heart. Again, there has not been a Sunday yet since I have been here when God has not brought someone here who was looking for a home in Christ. Welcome him, welcome her, welcome them. It will make Our Lady very happy. Stephen Gerth

PARISH PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty in Kosovo, for Dennis who is hospitalized and for Barbara, Gerald, Edward, Mary Ann, Margaret, Scot, Shirley, Mark, Dorothy, Warren, Karen, Victoria, Frank, Florinda, Myrian, Charmaine, Rodney, priest, and Simon, priest, and for the repose of the soul of Harry Boone Porter, priest.

FROM THE PARISH REGISTER . . . In the month of May a letter of transfer was sent for Joseph Brennan to Grace Church, New York City. Letters of transfer were received in May for Emory Edwards and Thomas Lisa from Saint Clement's Church, New York City.

I PUBLISH THE BANNS OF MARRIAGE between Susan Wamsley of New York City and Ricardo Miranda of New York City. If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it. This is the third time of asking. S.G.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Dennis Peters is doing very well. Please keep him in your prayers . . . Christopher Babcock attended the annual meeting of the Association of Anglican Musicians in Boston last weekend . . . Ken Cowan, our assistant organist, will be playing again this Sunday, June 20. Juli Morgan, our Sunday soloist, will be singing "Ave Maria, Op. 52, No. 6" by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) . . . Kevin Farley formally passes on Cursillo Secretariat Leadership to fellow parishioner Kathy Chase on Sunday, June 20, at the closing Mass of Cursillo Number 69 in the Diocese of New York. Kevin served on the secretariat for eighteen years! . . . Thursday, June 24, is The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. It is a very appropriate day to make an extra effort to be present for the 12:15 or 6:15 Mass . . . Many thanks to the servers who were able to attend the meeting last Sunday. The Rector plans to call a meeting for MCs very soon . . . New altar servers are needed and expected. If you think you might be interested in serving please speak with any member of the clergy . . . Clergy Anniversaries To the Diaconate: June 15: Father Shin, June 22: Father Parker . . . Attendance last Sunday: 138.

ALTAR FLOWERS . . . Altar flowers are needed for lots of Sundays this summer. We get big flowers for the money because Howard Christian goes to the wholesale flower market to order them and most of the time arranges them. Jon Bryant and Dean Driver help Howard when called on. The flowers always look good. Howard says he can do summer Sunday flowers for $75.00 but $100.00 is usually better. It depends on the market. Flowers can be given on any Sunday or feast day except for the ordinary Sundays of Advent and Lent and the penitential days of the year. Flowers can be given in memory of the departed. They can also be given in thanksgiving for God's blessings, in honor of another person or on the occasion of an anniversary. If you would like to give flowers, please call the parish office. We will help make it happen. There is also a sign-up list of available Sundays in Saint Joseph's Hall.

AT THE JUNE 14th MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES . . . At its June meeting, the Board of Trustees welcomed a member of parish to its proceedings and (1) heard about a situation related to the SafeSpace program in the Mission House, in which The Center for Children and Families, the not for profit organization that runs the program, wishes to install a new electrical line from Consolidated Edison; (2) heard that there will be a reception for Father Parker after High Mass on Sunday June 27, his last Sunday as Curate at St. Mary’s; (3) heard about plans to renovate the Morning Room as a nursery room; (4) heard about plans to install new telephones and computers in the parish complex; and (5) learned about a Trustees Retreat, which will be held at the House of the Redeemer on the second weekend in September with the Reverend Charles Fulton, president of the Episcopal Church Building Fund.

Worship at Saint Mary’s

The Holy Eucharist

On Sundays Mass is said at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. A Solemn Mass is offered at 11:00 AM. Monday through Friday Mass is said at 12:15 PM and 6:15 PM. On Saturdays Mass is said at 12:15 PM.

The Daily Office

On ordinary Sundays Morning Prayer is said at 8:40 AM and Evening Prayer at 4:45 PM. Monday through Friday Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30 AM, the Noonday Office at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM. On Saturdays the Noonday Office is offered at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 5:00 PM.

The Reconciliation of Penitents

Confessions are heard on Saturdays between 11:30 and 12:00 and between 4:00 and 5:00. Appointments can also be made with members of the parish clergy for the Reconciliation of Penitents at other times.

Friday Abstinence

The ordinary Fridays of the year are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial in commemoration of the crucifixion of the Lord.